Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. Section 3 of the Liquor Control Act is amended by adding the following subsections:

Definitions

(1.2) In this subsection and subsections (1.3) and (1.4),

“cider” means cider as described in section B.02.120 of the Food and Drug Regulations made under the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) and the cider-like beverage made from the fermented juice of pears known as perry; (“cidre”)

“Ontario cider” means cider produced in Ontario from apples or other fruit grown in Ontario. (“cidre de l’Ontario”)

Limit on mark-up or tax on sale of cider

(1.3) Despite anything in subsection (1) or the regulations made under this Act, the Board shall not impose any mark-up or tax on the sale of any class or type of Ontario cider, whether at a government store or otherwise, that exceeds the mark-up or tax that the Board imposes on the sale of any class or type of beer, whether at a government store or otherwise.

No liability to pay

(1.4) No person is liable to pay any portion of a mark-up or tax on the sale of Ontario cider, whether at a government store or otherwise, that the Board imposes in contravention of subsection (1.3).

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3. The short title of this Act is the Growing Ontario’s Craft Cider Industry Act, 2016.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Liquor Control Act so that the mark-up or tax that the Liquor Control Board of Ontario imposes on the sale of any class or type of Ontario cider, including craft cider, whether at a government store or otherwise, does not exceed the mark-up or tax that the Board imposes on the sale of any class or type of beer, including craft beer, whether at a government store or otherwise.